Nearly 10,000 people homeless in Brussels, up 25% since 2022: Report
The number of homeless people in the Brussels-Capital Region of Belgium has reached 9,777, marking a sharp 25% rise since 2022, according to a recent report by the research center Bruss'Help.
Of those counted, 992 individuals are currently living on the streets, said the report, released on Wednesday.
The 2024 snapshot paints a stark picture, highlighting diverse and vulnerable groups among the homeless population, including young people estranged from their families, women escaping domestic violence, and individuals battling addictions.
Bruss'Help attributed the rising figures to multiple factors, with the deepening poverty in the region a significant driver, paired with rising rents that have become unaffordable for many residents.
The report also pointed to recent changes in federal shelter policy. Single men are no longer admitted to shelters run by Fedasil, Belgium's federal agency for asylum seekers, contributing to the surge in street homelessness.
